Trap



June 17, 1941. J. c. RUSSELL TRAP Filed Aug. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 75in faJse// A tiorney June 17, 1941. J. c. RUSSELL TRAP Filed Aug. 5, 1940] 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m me ha 5 a C .4 J

A itorney Patented June 17, 1941 ounirso STATES PATENT OFFICE John C. Rusffiilgore, Tex.

Application August 5, 1940, Serial No. 351,497

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in traps particularly for rats and mice and has for its primary object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising novel float operated means for automatically resetting itself after imprisoning the animal.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a trap of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eificient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a trap constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line-2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation of the lower portion of the trap.

Referrin now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a container of suitable material which is designated generally by the reference numeral I The container I includes a permanent leak-proof top 2 which is provided with a water, tight filler cap 39. At an intermediate point, a horizontal partition 3 in the container I divides said container into upper and lower compartments 4 and 5, respectively, the upper compartment being adapted to receive a fluid, as at 6. Rising from the horizontal partition 3 to a point above the level of the fluid 6 in the compartment 4 is a tubular guide i. It will be observed that the tubular guide communicates with the lower compartment 5. Depending from the partition 3 in the lower compartment is a rod 8.

The front 9 of the container I has formed in its lower portion an entrance opening I. The back H of the container I is provided with a screened Window 12 which is substantially aligned with the entrance l0. On one side I 3 (see Fig. 2) of the container 1 is a flange [4 to which a cage l5 of suitable mesh wire is secured. An exit opening 16 in the side wall I3 of the container l communicates with the cage IS. A substantially conical guard I! for the exit opening 55 I 6 projects from the wall [3 of the container 1 into the cage l5. The guard l1 includes a screen lower portion ill to permit the animal passing therethrough to obtain a good foothold Mounted for vertical movement in the lower compartment 5 is a chamber l9. The front 20 Of the. chamber I9 is provided with an, entrance opening 2| for registry with the openimg ill in the container l. The back 22 of the chamber H) has formed in its lower portion an opening 23 for the reception of light from the window lZ when said chamber is in raised or elevated position. One side wall 24 of the chamber! 9 has formed in its upper portion an exit opening, 25 for registry with the openin 16 when the chamber 19 is in lowered position in the compartment 5,.

Rising from the chamber l9v is a stem 26 which is slidable in the tubular guide 1. The stem 26, it will be observed, projects upwardly from the tubular guide 1 into the upper compartment 4. Slidable on the guide 1 and operable in the fluid 6 in the upper compartment 4 is afloat 21. Rods 28 connect the upper end portion of the stem 26 to the float 27. V I

The top 29 of the chamber :19 has formed therein an opening 33 through which the depending rod 8 passes. Mounted "on; the lower end P rtion of the rod Bin the chamber l9 isa bait pan 3!. The reference numeral 32 designates an animal depressed treadle provided with. spaced, parallel legs 33 which are pivotally secured at an intermediate point, as at 34, on the side walls of the bait pan 3|. Depending from one of the legs 33, at the pivot 34'there0f, is a 1atch35 which is .engageable beneath the bottom 35 of the an opening 3'! for releasably securing said chamber in raised position. A counterweight 38 on one of the legs 33 engages the latch 35 with the bottom of the chamber l9 when said chamber returns to raised position.

It is thought that the operation of the device Will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the trap is set the chamber I9 is in raised or elevated position as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

2 2,246,011 IS, with the weight of the animal added thereto, reception of a fluid, a tubular guide rising from is too heavy to be sustained by the float 21 and the partition above the level of the fluid in the said chamber thus moves downwardly in the upper compartment, a float operable in the fluid lower compartment 5 of the container 1. In in the upper compartment and slidable on the this manner the opening 2| is moved out of 5 guide, the lower compartment having animal registry with the opening Hi, the opening 23 is entrance and exit openings therein, a chamber, moved out of registry with the opening 12 thus for the reception of an animal, operable vershutting off the light from this source and the tically in the l w r compartment. a Stern on s d opening 25 is moved into registry with the openchamber extending slidably through the tubular ing Hi. It will therefore be seen that the only guide, a s s curin the stem to the float for exit through which the animal may escape from suspending the chamber from said float, the float the container l is through the openings and constituting me s for Supporting e er it. The animal passes through the openings in elevated position when said chamber is empty, 25 and i6 and the substantially conical guard the chamber having an entrance opening therein i1 into the cage l5. When the chamber I9 is 15- egistering with the first named entrance op thus lightened the float 21 elevates said chame n the chamber is in elevated position. ber to raised or set position, in which position said chamber further having a eXit Openin it is again secured by the latch 35. The conher in for registry with the first named exit struction and arrangement is such that the fluid Opening When Sa d chamber IS in lowered posiwill not escape from the compartment 4 through 530 tion, and animal actuated means for releasably the tube I should the trap be overturned. securing the chamber in elevated position when It is believed that the many advantages of a an animal is in said chamber, trap constructed in accordance with the pres- A trap comprising a container includin a ent invention will be readily understood and alhorizontal pa t n p vid pp r a d l wer though a preferred embodiment of the device is 5 par ts, said upper compartment for the as illustrated and described, it is to be underc p n of a fl i a lar guide ri i from stood that changes in the details of tru ti n the partition above the level of the fluid in the and in the combination and arrangement of parts pp compartment, a float Operable n e fl may be resorted to which will fall within the in the upp r compartment and slidable on the scope of the invention as claimed. u de, the lower compa aving animal What is claimed is: entrance and exit openings therein, a chamber, 1'. A trap comprising a container including for the reception of an animal, operable verupper d 1 w compartments, i upper tically in the lower compartment, a stem on said partment for the rece tion of a fluid, a float chamber extending s d ly t rou h the tubular operable in the fluid in the upper compartment, de, a s Securing the stem to the float f r an animal receiving chamber suspended from suspending t e chamber from said float, the the float and operable in the lower compartfloat constituting means for pp t ng the nlent and means perable an animal for rechamber in elevated position when the Chamber leasably securing the chamber in raised position. is empty, the chamber having an n nce open- 2. A trap comprising a co tain r m uld 4o ing therein registering with the first named upper and lower compartments, said upper comentrance opening when the chamber is in elepartment for t reception of fluid a float, vated position, said chamber further having an operable in the fluid in the upper compartment, exit Opening therein for registry W th the first a chamber suspended from the float and operanamed 9X11? pe en Said chamber is in able vertically in the lower compartment, the l wered positi n nimal actuated means h b d t container having inlet penfor releasably securing the chamber in elevated ings therein -for registry with each other when position When n n mal is in said chamber, the the chamber is in elevated position, said chamlast namedmeans including a rod depending ber and container further having exit openings fromthe, partition into the chamber, a bait pan therein for registry with each other when said mounted on Said d in e Chamber, a ead-1e chamber is in lowered position, and animal acincluding Spaced e s DiVOtaIly Secu ed to said tuated means for releasably securing the chambait pan, a latch on one of said legs engageable ber in raised position with an animal therein. with the bottom of the chamber, and means on 3. A trap comprising a container including a saidone leg for engaging the latch with the horizontal partition providing upper and lower chamber. compartments, said upper compartment for the JOHN C. RUSSELL. 

